UKOOG welcomes Lords’ support for the development of shale gas in the UK

8 May 2014

UK Onshore Oil and Gas (UKOOG), the representative body for the onshore oil and gas industry, today welcomes the call from the House of Lords Select Committee on Economic Affairs that the UK “get(s) on with” developing our shale gas resources.

The Lords recognise the massive potential for shale gas and its role in improving energy security, creating a bridge fuel toward renewables, reducing our reliance on coal and supporting industries that rely on gas as a feedstock. They also recognise the potential to develop a supply chain for shale gas which could have a strong regional benefit. The Lords have also conducted a thorough study of the available evidence on environmental and health risks from hydraulic fracturing for shale gas and have concluded that the level of risk is very low.

The Lords also call for a simplified regulatory regime. The onshore oil and gas industry currently complies with 17 different European Union directives and each well requires up to nine permits. The Government is taking steps to improve the regulatory and planning system for onshore oil and gas development. UKOOG also notes the assertion by the Lords that more must be done to reassure local communities about the development of shale gas and the industry is already working hard to provide this reassurance.

Ken Cronin, chief executive of UKOOG, said: “The onshore oil and gas industry is ready and willing to step up to the challenge set by the Lords of developing a shale gas industry that can be of great benefit to the UK economy. We are working with Government, industry, local communities and other interested parties to create the right environment to develop the UK’s shale gas reserves safely and in the most environmentally sensitive way possible, while enabling local communities to share in the national benefits shale gas can bring. This is a long, thorough and well considered report and we will work through the detail before making any further response.”